No fewer than fifty (50) houses, shops and other structures have been destroyed as a result of heavy rainstorm which followed the rainfall that occurred in some parts of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Thursday.
DAILY POST reports that among the houses, shops and other structures which were affected are those belonged to residents of Alaaka community, Araromi village, Igbonna, Apete, Wajawaja, Ologuneru, Alapata, Olose, Oloman, Arijo, Awotan, Alapata, Ile-Titun and other areas all in Ido local government area of the state.
Our correspondent who received several distress calls from the owners of the houses whose roof were either blew off, structures were destroyed or totally collapsed as a result of the heavy rainstorm, learnt that the rainstorm occurred between 6.00 and 6.30 pm during the rainfall that occurred in the affected areas.
DAILY POST correspondent who visited most of the areas reports that apart from the houses and shops, no fewer than fifteen (15) concrete and wooden poles have been destroyed or break, a situation which may affect electricity supply in the affected areas.
A resident of Alaaka community, Mr. Musliudeen Ajadi Alimi, whose house he built last year totally collapsed after the roof has been blewed off, told DAILY POST that he and his wife were in the house when the incident occurred.
Ajadi while lamenting his ordeal, appealed to the state and federal governments as well as National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), as well as spirited Nigerians to come to his rescue saying that, “I don’t know where to start”.
He said, “It was the rainstorm came in heavy way. The whole roof was totally removed. It destroyed the whole building after the roof was removed. What is left. I am appealing to the well spirited Nigerians, Oyo state government and the federal government to come to my aid”
Another affected person, whose roof was removed during the rainstorm, Mrs. Funke Emmanuel told our correspondent that she and her husband were left with no option to sleep in their shop.
She said “The rainstorm was heavy. I was inside the house with my children. The rainstorm came three times, it carried the whole roof the forth time it came. I thank God that it does not claim any live. I am appealing to the government of Oyo state to come to my rescue.
A resident of Ologuneru whose shop was also destroyed while recounting his ordeal told DAILY POST on Friday that he almost die when the electricity in the shop shocked him during the rainstorm.
Another resident of Arijo community, Mr. Kamilu Adesina told DAILY POST that most of the houses in Arijo, Wajawaja, Olomo, Ogunde and Olose were one way or the other affected saying that about two concrete poles and more than five wooden poles were destroyed.
He said, “Our area at Arijo, Wajawaja up to Olose and Oloman, I can’t say the number of houses that were destroyed. When I was coming I saw two concrete poles and many wooden poles that were break. In fact, I don’t know when we will have electricity in those areas. It affected many houses in Oloman, Olose. The rainstorm blew off a two-bedroom flat of one woman I know in Olose community”.
Chairman of Alaaka Estate Landlord and Landladies Association, Mr. Tunde Odeyale who said that about fifteen (15) houses were destroyed in the area, urged government to come to the rescue of the affected persons.
He said, “The rain of yesterday affected many houses in Alaaka community. It destroyed many houses and property worth millions of naira. About fifteen houses were destroyed. It has rendered many people homeless now. They are now looking for places to sleep and we are incapacitated. Among those whose houses were destroyed included Mr. Ajadi, Mrs. Emmanuel, Iya Zainab, Mrs. Bose Aliu, Mr. Ayuba and others. We are now urging our government and those who can support us in this community”.
But, the Chairman of Ido Local government area, Mr. Wahab Oladejo when asked to speak on the matter however said that there is nothing the local government can do except the state government.
“I am not aware because my people in those areas are yet to call me. But, with that, don’t promise them that the local government can help them. It is the state government that can help. Just write what you see and don’t let anybody push you. Write any report you want to write and don’t let anybody push you. If we see it and the local government is in position to help, but don’t promise anybody that the local government can help. Because, as at now, the capacity of the local government is not enough to take care them. I know that it is the state government that is in position to help them”.
But, the secretary of the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Akin Makinde who said he was hearing the news for the first time, however promised that the agency would take the necessary action when furnished with the details of the damages in the affected areas.
